My Anxiety Is Worse From Isolation

[MissK1980]

Okay, I left an abusive situation in January 2015 and after that the serious symptoms of the PTSD I had been diagnosed with in 1995 resurfaced. I was in therapy from May to August but I stopped going because of other issues that were going on. I had to move from where I was living and now I'm staying with a friend of mine, but the problem is he lives in the middle of nowhere.

I'm alone 95% of the time and it's making this issue 1000x worse. I'm not purposely isolating myself, I've been trying to find a job since I've been here and everyone treats me like I'm some kind of ghost or monster. I told a few interviewers that I had PTSD and how I had to quit my job and go into therapy for it. But that it's been a few months and the fact that I'm NOT working is making my anxiety worse. I've gotten rejected for all sorts of positions, including cashier jobs, which is all I've ever had for the most part.

I'm NOT taking any medications for this because I'm straightedge and I don't believe in putting anything like that in my body. I've smoked a joint here and there, that seems to ease the anxiety, but lately it's been getting worse from not doing anything. I'm not purposely doing this to myself, I'm gonna be 36 this year and there's so many things that I want to do with my life. Giving up and collecting social security or disability is NOT an option right now. I need a job, but no one will hire me. They haven't come right out and said that it's because of the PTSD, but it really feels like it. Is it even legal to do that? Has anyone had a problem like this before?

 

[Casey_03]

Hmmm pretty sure it is illegal to not hire you because of PTSD, but they can find loopholes there and easily just cite some other reason. I think you should avoid telling them that at interviews. I read that and thought, "No! Don't do that!" It just seems too soon to be telling them. Most people don't understand PTSD, so they will likely get freaked out by it, and they may see it as oversharing that you are telling them that. I think you are better off telling them at a later stage, ideally, only after you've been hired and only if the PTSD interferes with your work. If you don't think it will interfere with your work, don't tell them at all, there's no reason to.

 

[MissK1980]

I've never been through this before, I've never had to quit a job because my anxiety spun out of control, so this is new to me. My ex, who's partially the cause of some of my anxiety issues, told me the same thing. But I just assumed that he was just worried that I would mention his name or something. Thanks for the tip :)

 

[Pencil]

In all honesty, I wouldn't hire anyone who said they had PTSD. Why do you feel the need to disclose this?

 

[MissK1980]

Thanks, he said the same thing, as well.

 

[RavenGirl]

I told my employer this year, but I've been there 15yrs and this is the first time I've had any problems. No way would I have told them right from the get go. Only disclose if already working there and the job may be exasperating symptoms of the PTSD. Then only disclose the bare minimum to make them understand. That's just my feelings.

 

[MissK1980]

Now I know, thank you :) like I said, this is new to me. I hoped the honesty would get me a job, because I was getting rejected everywhere else and I hadn't mentioned that I had it, so I told two employers. Bad mistake, obviously.

 

[RavenGirl]

Hang in there, it will get better. ;):hug:

 

[Gs172003]

In all honesty, I wouldn't hire anyone who said they had PTSD. Why do you feel the need to disclose this...

Why.

 

[GenerousMoon]

Okay, I left an abusive situation in January 2015 and after that the serious symptoms of the PTSD I ha...

Do not tell employer about pstd. I have never told anyone. I have been there about 2yrs & just starting to say something slowly. My mood swings definitely is noticeable. I do have fmla(family and medical leave act) in which is suppose to be for my migraines which have to do with my anxiety. Many individuals kind of can tell something wrong. I work for a hospital call center. I sit in the back so I cannot get distracted. This helps due to my flare ups. Good luck in your job search.